LAS VEGAS—The last time USA Basketball convened here, things did not end well for center DeMarcus Cousins.

Playing for the Select Team that practiced against the team that was heading to the London Olympics, Cousins made a name for himself for all the wrong reasons. Carmelo Anthony claimed he was, “fouling the (expletive) outta everyone,” reports came up that he was combative with the referees, and USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo later said Cousins was, “immature” and, “has a lot of growing up to do.”

DeMarcus Cousins averaged 17.1 points per game and 9.9 rebounds per game last season. (AP Photo)

Cousins felt he was unfairly targeted at the time, and it appeared as though the link between USA Basketball and one of the league’s most talented young big men was frayed beyond repair. But now Cousins is back, thanks to something that has become a specialty in his short and tumultuous NBA career: A second chance.

“He came in with a great attitude, he has worked real hard, he had a good day today at practice,” Colangelo said. “There is a little bit of a misunderstanding that got out of hand with the media last year over what did transpire with him and that was unfortunate. And so, in an attempt to bring it to a close, I said, the book is closed, let’s move on with our lives and why not give him a second chance? Everyone deserves one.”

Cousins agreed that what had been said about his time with Team USA last year was overdone, and that he was not surprised to be invited back. “I mean, the whole thing was blown out of proportion,” he said. “What was said between us wasn’t as bad as it was made out to be, but for him to set it aside and give me another chance, I am very thankful for that.”

Colangelo’s motive here is not pure benevolence. Fact is, Tyson Chandler was Team USA’s starting center in last year’s Olympics, and it’s unlikely he will have that spot in next year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup or the ’16 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The team could get Dwight Howard or Chris Bosh back, but among the young alternatives in the middle, Cousins would be the best option offensively, coming off a season in which he averaged 17.1 points and 9.9 rebounds, shooting a career-high 46.5 percent with 2.7 assists, also a career high.

It’s not just his status with Team USA that needs to be ironed out, though. Cousins is getting another second chance with the Kings, too, after three years of fines, locker-room fights and trade demands seemed to have him on the outs in Sacramento. Early in the month, new coach Mike Malone and new general manager Pete D’Alessandro traveled to Mobile, Ala., to meet with Cousins and talk about the future. Their message to him was clear: They planned to build around him, not trade him.

D’Alessandro has called Cousins the face of the franchise, and that gesture alone registered with Cousins. The previous administration in Sacramento had been reluctant to put that much stock into a guy it considered volatile.

“It comes with a lot of responsibility,” Cousins said of being the franchise frontman. “That being said, it’s something that I already felt but I am glad it is finally being said. I am just going to take advantage of the opportunity.”

Cousins also said that D’Alessandro asked his opinion on the team’s transactions. “Me and Pete talked,” Cousins said. “He asked me what players I liked, what players I don’t like. We have been talking back and forth. As in free agents. … That never happened before and I believe it should have.”

Cousins would not discuss the biggest issue surrounding his immediate future—the contract extension he can sign between now and October 31. Cousins will seek the maximum in that deal, and how stringently he sticks by that demand, and whether the new Kings front office will accede, could determine how his second chance in Sacramento goes.

But first things first. Cousins is hoping to leave an impression here in Las Vegas, hoping to move up the chain of prospects on Team USA’s watch list.

“I am focused on Team USA right now, not Sacramento,” he said. “I am glad I got the chance to come back. I am going to make the best of the opportunity and hopefully it’ll work out.”